FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 15 WAIVER WIRE PICKUPS
FIRST CHECK: Keaton Mitchell, Antonio Gibson, Matthew Stafford
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It was a breakout game for tight end Isaiah Likely, who finished the day with 5-83-1 on seven targets. The 54-yard touchdown played a big part in that production but Likely showed how valuable he can be to Baltimore’s offense. We know we weren’t going to get Mark Andrews’ production levels out of Likely, but it’s nice to see a third receiver stepping up in this offense.
It’s Dejavu all over again. With Isaiah Pacheco landing on the IR, the Chiefs backfield is up for grabs as the season winds down. Both backs will play a healthy amount, but the touches Jerick McKinnon has gotten are proven to be far more valuable of the two. His receiving work and goal-line carries make him a must add in Kansas City’s offense. He was a late season hero last year, he can do that again just as easily in 2023.
Odell Beckham, another Ravens pass catcher, is trending up in Baltimore’s offense. His snap and route percentage jumped from low-30s to mid-50s after the bye week, and he led all Ravens players with 97 receiving yards. His long score also showed he can be the downfield threat the Ravens have been missing all year. Beckham has also scored in three of their last five games.
Zay Jones has been on a tear, turning into a target hog with the injury to Christian Kirk. Twenty-two targets over the last two games is a great volume; we just want to see those numbers turn into actual production. Jacksonville is throwing the ball at an extremely high rate right now and should be in another shootout against the Ravens.
Vikings RB Alexander Mattison left that absolute snooze fest early with a sprained ankle and missed the remainder of the game. Ty Chandler stepped in and finished with 15 touches on the day in Mattison’s place. Should this ankle injury linger and keep Mattison off the field, Chandler would be in line for a large workload down the stretch.
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In a surprising twist, Bears RB D’Onta Foreman returned and was given lead-back duties this week. He played 55% of snaps while heavily reducing the roles of both Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson. Apparently the Bears prefer the big bruising style of Foreman to lead the backfield, but there’s also a chance the game script of playing with a lead forced their hand into playing Foreman.
He had a mini breakout last week, but Chase Brown is putting himself on the map in Cincinnati. Despite its limited usage behind Joe Mixon, the RB2 spot seems to be his now. Brown has done serious work in the receiving game, catching three balls for 80 yards and a score this past week. It seems like Brown will be mixed in more and more as he builds more trust with the coaches.
With McKinnon on IR, Clyde Edwards-Helaire is being put into a bigger role for Kansas City’s backfield. Coach Andy Reid said CEH would be the lead back, but he was only out there for 48% of snaps and lost out on goal-line work to Jerick McKinnon. CEH will see volume week in and week out, but McKinnon will likely vulture the valuable touches.
In the wake of Tutu Atwell going down in Los Angeles, WR3 Demarcus Robinson had a tough day but salvaged his three receptions with a touchdown catch. What really stuck out is Robinson’s ten targets on the day and now scores in back-to-back games. The Rams play the Commanders next, who have one of the worst defenses in football, so it’s a solid spot for Rams receivers.
The rookie out of Penn State has scored in two straight now, as Parker Washington is stepping up in the absence of Christian Kirk. We’re waiting for his usage to climb a bit more as he’s in the high 50s, low 60s in snap percentage. Regardless, he’s showing a knack for the end zone and is making his presence felt in the Jaguars offense.
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Raiders RB Josh Jacobs left their Week 14 game in the fourth quarter and did not return to action. With the Raiders having a quick turnaround playing Thursday night, this puts Jacobs’ availability in jeopardy for the first round of fantasy playoffs. Enter Zamir White, the guy we told you to stash and handcuff last week. White would slide into Jacobs’ role, while Ameer Abdullah would more than likely handle the passing work. For a team that runs with a bell-cow, White can be a saving grace to an RB needy roster.
The Texans are taking an absolute beating at the receiver spot, with Nico Collins joining Tank Dell on the injury list. Collins length of injury is still to be determined, but Noah Brown should step into the WR1 role in their absence should it be longer term. Hopefully, CJ Stroud will recover from his concussion in time for Week 15.
What a story it’s been for Jake Browning and the Bengals offense. He has all the talent in the world around him to help make the job a bit easier, but Browning looks like he fits right into this offense. He even runs a bit and converts down at the goal line. The Vikings were able to shut out the Raiders this week, but Browning and this offense are at another level compared to those guys.
Are we in a Time Machine?! Joe Flacco is looking like the classic Ravens Super Bowl-winning QB, putting up 311 yards and 3 touchdowns for the Browns this week. He’s been red hot, and while the Bears defense has been actually pretty solid, I wouldn’t shy away from Joe Cool if I needed a QB this week.
